to render
it tolerably defensible, or even to build a single vessel fit for
navigating the lake: nor was this strange neglect ever taken effectual
notice of, till the beginning of this year, when, at a meeting which
general Braddock had in April with the governors and chief gentlemen of
several of our colonies at Alexandria, in Virginia, it was resolved to
strengthen both the fort and garrison at Oswego, and to build some large
vessels at that place. Accordingly a number of shipwrights and workmen
were sent thither in May and June. At the same time captain Bradstreet
marched thither with two companies of an hundred men each, to reinforce
the hundred that were there before under captain King, to which number
the garrison had been increased since our contests with France began
to grow serious. For a long time before, not above twenty-five men
were left to defend this post, which from its great importance, and the
situation of affairs at this juncture, most certainly required a much
stronger garrison than was put into it even at this juncture; but
economy was the chief thing consulted in the beginning of this war, and
to that in a great measure was owing its long duration.

EXPEDITION AGAINST NIAGARA.

From the above description of the passage from Albany to Oswego, it is
plain how necessary it was that the troops intended for this expedition
should have set out early in the spring. But instead of that, the very
first of them, colonel Schuyler's New Jersey regiment, did not begin
their march till after the beginning of July, and just as Shirley's and
Pepperell's regiments were preparing to follow, the melancholy account
of Braddock's disaster arrived at Albany, where it so damped the
spirits of the people, and spread such a terror, that many of the troops
deserted, and most of the batteau-men dispersed and ran home, by which
means even all the necessary stores could not be carried along with the
troops. Notwithstanding this disappointment, Mr. Shirley set out from
Albany before the end of July, with as many of the troops and stores as
he could procure a conveyance for, hoping to be joined in his route
by great numbers of the Indians of the Six Nations, to whom he sent
invitations to that effect as he passed by their settlements; but they,
instead of complying with his desire, absolutely declared against all
hostilities on that side of the country; and insisted that Oswego, being
a place of traffic and peace, ought